New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-04-27
a RUSSIAN GHOST STORY.
The Apparition Which Appeared to the Empress
Elizabeth.

1t is Well-knoWn TACT that st. Pc
tersburg owes several of its most mag
nifcent edihces to the Empress Eliza
beth, daughter Of Peter the Great and
Catherine the First. She prevailed
upon Count Rastrelli, the first archi-
tect OF the eighteenth century, to
come to St. Petersburg, and under his
direction the winter palace, the Escu-
rial Of the North, was built. About
the same time Rastrelli also built the
Pagencops, formerly the Palace Germ
itschoff, a superb ediffce, the imposing
Palace Stroganof, and the church OF
the Smo' Ina Monastur, constructed
in style as noble as it IS beautiful.
The Palace Beloselski, now called Kot-
schubell, also owes it origin to Ras-
trelli. 1t was restored and ornament
ed with balconies of beautiful design by
the Russian architect Stackenschmidt,
who had also erected numerous pal
aces.
While the winter palace was in pro-
cess OF construction Elizabeth occu-
pied q small palace Bolschol- Merskol
situated in the broad avenue bor-
dering on the sea. The building exists
no longer. It once stood on the iden-
tical spot-a fact which is not known
even to all Petersburgians- where the
Frenchman Jacot has now built his
immense house.
When the Winter palace was finish
ed the empress appointed a day for
taking possession of it, and the elite of
the guards a corps which was compos-
ed entirely of noblemen, mounted
guard in the new castle. Along, dark
corridor leads to the middle door of
the white or throne room. In the cor
ridor two young noblemen were.post-
ed. It was approaching ten o'clock
and the arrival of the empress was
momentarily expected. Suddenly
the attention OF the young men
was attracted by a bright streak
Of light which seemed to glide
between them in the dark passage.
Their eyes followed the light and they
saw that it streamed through the key
hole of the throne room. Who could
have any business at such an unusual
hour in any room which was designed
only for the reception of foreign am
bassadors? One of the young men
considered it his duty to investigate the
matter, and approached the door for
the purpose, but as soon as he had
glanced through the keyhole he called
to his comrade in whisper to come
nearer.
''The empress has already arrived"
whipered he; stshe is seated on the
throne directly opposite to the
door,
The others also looked through the
aperture and soon verified this to be a
tact. The empress was seated in tran
gull dignity on an elevated golden
stool under the red velvet canopy,
richly adorned with the imperial arms
OF Russia, the double eagle. The room
was brilliantly lighted; but it was i'm
possible to ascertain if any other per-
sons were present, and the thickness
of the door.lock allowed no sideview
OF the apartment. Theyoung men re-
turned to their posts and waited. Not
long after one Of the his her officers ap-
peared and said:
AOo Se0AA cSil INV ICVl1 UAlC
will not come tonight"
'But her majesty is already here"
"What? Who?'
'Her majesty is in the throneroom."
'sImpossible!'
''You can see for YOURSELF
The officer looked, immediately rec
ognized the empress, and said wonder
ingly:
II cannot understand what the
marshal means. He hasjust arrived,
and ordered that all the guards be
withdrawn; the empress has changed
her mind, and will not arrive tonight.
Nevertheless, see that she is here.
Could she have come secretly? At all
events, will ascertain what new or
ders the marshal has issued. Mean
while do you remain here, as the en-
press may pass this way The mar
shall, Prince Kuratin. was fortunately
still in the palace, and as soon as he
heard oftthe mysterious report hast
ened to the corridor and peered in
his turn through the keyhole.
''My God! It is the empress her
majesty herself! What can it mean?''
exclaimed he
"How can this be possible, when I
have just left her presence? She was
dressed in her usual everyday attire,
and now / see her arrayed in all her
royal robes and jewels. There must
he some mystery behind this: Let all
the entrances to the -throne-room be
guarded! Let no onesbe allowed to
gotin or. out! will hastento report. .
The distance between the two houses
being quite short, the marshal soon
reached the small palace, temporarily
occe pied by the empress
Where is the e1npressgo
.sIn her sleeping apartment
The prince looked atthelady ofhon-
or with suspicion. and said sharply:
Are you sure that the empress is
here?''
4of.course; she is preparing to re-
tire
.Inform her Instantly chat I am
here
Tn O fo.x- ,,;n,,+oc D,;na.